Forced draft exhaust heater for motor vehicles



April 17, 1934- c. A. SCHMIDT 1,955,096

FORCED DRAFT EXHAUST HEATER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 4, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet l April 1934- c. SCHMIDT v 1,955,096

FORCED DRAFT EXHAUST HEATER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 4, 1830 5Sheets-Sheet 2 (Ia/r21 JZ Schmidt 3511 I V dkouwq p l 1934- c. A.SCHMIDT 1,955,096

FORCED DRAFT EXHAUST HEATER FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Jan. 4, 1930 v sSheets-Sheet 3 5%- i I 5 Fig- 11 I OQrZ/CHSOIi/m/IJLZI MIIH I PatentedApr. 17, 1934 1 UNITED STATES [PATENT OFFICE FORCED DRAFT EXHAUST HEATERFOR MOTOR VEHICLES Carl A. Schmidt, St. Paul, Minn, assignor to AshcoCorporation, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota ApplicationJanuary 4, 1930, Serial No. 418,508

7 Claims. (01. 257437) My invention relates to an improvement in vide acasing for the heating coil of my heater forced draft exhaust heatersdesigned to be used in order that the heater may present a neat and i inconjunction with motor vehicles, and is of a finished appearance withinthe car, and so that nature to heat the air within the vehicle or to theheater casting is guarded to protect the occuheat fresh cold' air andcirculate itwithin the pants of the car-against coming in contacttherean vehicle to make the same more comfortable for with. theoccupants therein in cold weather. It is a feature of my invention thatmy heater A feature of my invention resides in the heat. will act almostinstantaneously, the exhaust heating of air by forcing it past aradiator casting or ing the coil at once, the lower or most effectiveheating coil heated by the exhaust gases taken part of the coil beingthe first to heat up and from the hottest portion of the exhaust pipe ofthe air draft being forced over the heated coil the motor and causing itto be blown out into to provide a hot air blast much more quickly thanthe body of the car where it is free to circulate has heretofore beenpossible. throughout the car and warm the entire interior These featuresand objects, together with other it thereof. details and objects of theinvention will be more m .It is my object to provide a radiator coilheater fully and clearly set forth in the specification and within thebody of the car which operates in 0011- claims. junction with aforceddraft supply created either In the drawings forming a part of thisspeciby an electric fan mounted behind the heater, a fication: 2c fandriven by the motor of the car, the power Figure 1' is a perspectiveview of my heater '35 being transmitted through a flexible shaft, or byinstalled within a motor vehicle.

air driven by the motor cooling fan into a fun-- Figure 2 is a verticalcross section through the nel-shaped opening through a conducting pipecenter of my heater. I or hose, and released in the rear of the heater.Figure 3 is a front elevation of my heater coil.

25 The feature of my heater in providing a radi- Figure 4 is across-sectional view of the ex an;

ator which is heated from the hottest portion of haust gas valve. theexhaust manifold provides a means which Figure 5 is a perspective viewof my heater 7 will give an intense heat virtually instantaneousshroud.ly with the starting of the motor or internal coin- F gure 6 is a p pView Of my 118811391 3U bustion engine of the motor vehicle. In otherguard plate. 85

heaters where the radiator isdesigned to use the F r 7 is a fr elevationV w of n l same fluid which is used in the cooling radiator hate form ofheater coil. for the internal combustion engine it takes some F g 8 is aSection 011 the 111188 of little time for the water or fluid to heat upand li '7- as thus the heating process is much slower just the Fi ure 9is a p s v v w of an a t na to same as in hot water heaters in homes. Inmy form of my heater.

exhaust heater radiator the heat is directed real Figu e 10 s adiagrammatic i elevation of hot virtually instantly with the starting ofthe ano h r alternate form of heat r. 'motor and the apparent advantageof a heater F ure 11 is a Wiring diagram Showing he of this nature willbe very evident. method Of Control Of y h e '95 A further advantage ofmy heater resides in My heater A is formed i a heater coil 10 theadditional exhaust opening from the manid p ed to be positioned Withinthe y f a fold which assists the escape of the exhaust gases motorVehicle B through which exhaust from from the manifold where they arecrowded in the the motor C of the Vehicle B is adapted to P s,

4:5 rapid peration of t motor, rather t heating the coil almostinstantly after the motor ioo tarding the same by passing through myexhaust is Startedradiator heater. The heater coil 10 is preferablyformed of an A novel feature of primary importan e t my integralcasting, and is shaped with an inlet invention is the provisions ofshutters upon the Opening 11 and an Outlet p n 12 for encasing of myheater, making it possible to di trance and exit of the exhaust. Theheating ice tribute heat in the direction where it is needed oil cast nmay b of a d d ap and the most, so that the heat from the heater may isillustrated as having a series of concentric be forced in the directionof the spot where it is hollow rings 13 connected by the radialpassagedesired. ways 14 and having a central exhaust chamber It is anadded feature of my invention to pro- '15 within these rings 13 andconnected to them by means of the radial passagewaysl l. Thus, exhaustentering the inlet 11 is free to circulate throughout the rings 13 andthe central chamber 15 to heat the entire coil 10 thoroughly.

In order that the heater may be installed within a car in a simple andinexpensive manner,

' and so that the heater will project inwardly the desired distance fromthe separating wall between the body of the car and the motor, I providebushings l6 threaded at one end'l'l to fit the threaded end 18 of theinlet opening 11 and outlet opening 12, and threaded at the other end 19to accommodate nuts 20 and 22. The nuts 20 are for the purpose ofadjustably gauging the distance between the heating coil 10 and thesupporting wall 23 upon which the heater is mounted, and when the ends19 ofthe bushings 16 are inserted in holes drilled for that purpose inthe supporting wall 23 until the nuts 20. bear against the wall, thenuts 22 are inserted on the projecting portion of the ends 19 andtightened up on the other side of the wall 23 until the heater A is heldsecurely.

A pipe 24 containing a butterfly valve is screwed into a hole drilledinto the hottest portion of the exhaust manifold near the motor exhaustparts, and attached to the bushing 16 leading to the inlet opening 11. Aflexible pipe 25, connected with the outlet opening 12 is attached tothe exhaust pipe 26 by means of a valve D in a such a manner that byoperating a valve lever 2'? by means of a knob 28 upon the dash board ofthe automobile B, all or a portion of the exhaust is trapped in theexhaust pipe 26, starting action through the inlet opening 11 to theheater. In the position shown in Figure 4, none of the exhaust wouldpass through the heater, while if in the dotted position shown, theexhaust would all pass through the heater. If only partly open the valvewould cause a syphoning action of part of the gas through the heater.The opening at the hottest point of the manifold allows an easy escapefor the gases through the pipe 24, through the coils of the heater, andout through the pipe 25 and through the exhaust 29 to the automobilemuffler in the ordinary manner. As the exploded gases composing theexhaust are hot from the time of the first explosion, and as the hotgases may be diverted. directly to the heater coil 10 when the motor Chas been operating a very short time, the coil 10 becomes hot andradiates a large amount of heat and as the inlet 11 is closely connectedwith the manifold, the lower portion of the heater is the most effectiveas it is close to the feet of the occupants and as the top portion issometimes obscured by the dash board. Because of the use of the hotexhaust it is understood that the flexible pipe 25 is composed of metalor other heat resisting elements.

In conjunction with my heater coil 10, I provide a draft means to forceair over the heated coil. 10 and to cause this heated air to circulatefreely through the body of the car. In Figure 2, this draft means isillustrated in the form of an electric motor 30 which is secured to abracket 32. This bracket 32 is attached by a'pair of clamps 33 to thebushings 16, so that the heater A may be installed or transported as aself-contained unit.

To the shaft 34 of the electric motor 30, I provide a fan 35 which isoperated by the motor 30 to force air through the openings 36 betweenthe rings 13 of my heater coil. The surface of the coil 10 is sufficientto heat the air driven through it by the fan 35, so that the air issuingthrough the heater is very warm.

In order that even more heated coil surface be exposed to the air forcedthrough the coil 10, I may form my heater coil in the manner illustratedin Figures '7 and 8, with radial fins 37 extending through the openings36 between the rings 13- of the coil. This structure acts to heat theair to a higher degree, as the fins 37 somewhat retard the passage ofair through the heater, keeping the air in contact with the heater for alonger space of time, and the fins 3'7 also present a much greatersurface with which the air may come in contact.

Other draft means may be substituted for the motor and fan illustratedin Figure 2 without departing from the spirit of my invention. Forinstance, a funnel 38 may be placed on the car B, preferably attachedjust behind the motor cooling fan, and a blast of air conveyed throughthe tube 39 to a shroud 40 behind the heater coil 10 and projected aboutthe coil 10 in much the same manner as has been described. In thisstructure shown in Figure 9, the motor 30 and fan 35 could be entirelyeliminated. Another method of creating a draft is shown in Figure 10 andis to extend a flexible shaft 42 from the fan 35 to a pulley 43 wherebythe fan 35 could be operated by power transmitted by the fan belt 4% ofthe car motor C through the pulley 43 and shaft 42. Other sourcesofpower could also be devised for operating the fan 35.

To enclose the heater coil 10 to provide a neat and finished appearance,and to protect the occupants of the car from the hot coil 10, I providea shell 45 shaped in a manner to cover completely the outer edge; of thecoil 10. The shell 45 is spaced by the lugs 46 away from the surface ofthe heater coil 10 so that the shell 45 remains relatively cooler thanthe coil itself. To protect the front exposed surface of the coil 10,and still permit the air draft from the heater to pass out into the bodyof the car, I provide a guard plate 46 secured to the coil 10 and spacedfrom it having concentric openings 47 through which the heated air maypass. This guard plate virtually eliminates any danger of anythingcoming in contact with the heated inner casting.

To provide a directing means for the heated air, so that the heat may bedirected to any point 3 where it is most needed within the car, Iprovide a pair of sh tters 48 secured between a pair of outwardly eending lugs 49 and pivotally supported in a manner to provide shutterswhich may be swung to either side to direct the air draft where it isdesired. This feature is of importance as by directing the heat'in thismanner the comfort of all of the occupants of the car is insured.

Inorder that the air draft may be varied to provide a more or lessheated air as desired, I place a rheostat 50 in conjunction with theelectric motor 30, and by operating this rheostat the speed of the motor30 and amount of the air draft may be controlled. Other means, such as abutterfly valve 52 in the intake air tube 39 may be used if thestructure illustrated in Figure 9 is employed.

I have thus provided an exhaust heater, having means associatedtherewith for providing a variable air draft through or around theheater, and

shutters for directing this heat to the position desired. My heater maybe manufactured at a low cost, be easily installed, and is a valuableaid in providing comfortable driving in the coldest weather. In warmweather the heater may be positively shut off by operating the butterflyvalve in the pipe 24.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have endeavored to show thebest embodiment 01' my heater and the principal features and operationmost desired in carrying out my invention, however, I desire to have itunderstood that the same is only suggestive of a means of carrying outmy invention-and that obvious changes may be made within the scope ofthe following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. An automobile heater including, a radiator comprising a series ofconcentric passages, a pair bf connecting passages between saidconcentric passages, and guard rrieans held in spaced relaiionship tosaid radiator over the front and circumferential edge of said radiator.

2. An automobile heater including, a radiator, a guard plate extendingover one side of said radiator and connected in spaced relation thereto,and a sleeve extending in spaced relationship to said radiator over theperipheral edge of said radiator.

3. An automobile heater including, a radiator, a guard plate extendingin spaced relationship over the front face thereof, lugs on said platefor attachment with said radiator, and a spaced sleeve connected inspaced relationship about said radiator.

4. An automobile heater including, a radiator,

a guard plate spaced from the front face thereof, and shutter means onsaid guard plate for deflecting air passing through the radiator.

5. An automobile heater including, a radiator, a guard plateextendingalong one side thereof spaced from said radiator, shutters on said guardplate to deflect air, and means for forcing air through said radiator tobe heated thereby and to be deflected by said shutters.

6. An automobile heater including, a radiator, means for forcing airthrough said radiator to be heated, a guard plate held spaced from thefront face of said radiator, shutters for deflecting the air passingthrough said radiator, and a sleeve held spaced about the peripheraledge of said heater. 1

7. An automobile heater including, a, radiator, means for forcing airtherethrough, a guard plate spaced from the front of said heater; andshutters mounted on said guard plate for deflecting the air passingthrough said radiator.

CARL A. SCHMIDT.

on said guard plate.

